1. What is BMI Percentage?

BMI Percentage compares an individual's BMI to a reference BMI value, expressing it as a percentage. This helps assess how much a person's BMI deviates from a standard or target value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the BMI Percentage formula:

Where:

• \( BMI \) — Individual's body mass index (kg/m²)
• \( Reference\ BMI \) — Standard or target BMI value (kg/m²)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage the individual's BMI is of the reference BMI.

3. Importance of BMI Percentage

Details: BMI percentage provides a relative measure of body mass compared to a standard, which can be useful for tracking progress toward weight goals or assessing deviation from population norms.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both the individual's BMI and the reference BMI in kg/m². Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What reference BMI should I use?
A: Common references include 22 (ideal BMI), 25 (overweight threshold), or population averages. Choose based on your specific comparison needs.

Q2: How do I interpret BMI percentage?
A: 100% means equal to reference. Below 100% indicates lower BMI, above indicates higher BMI than reference.

Q3: Is this different from BMI percentile?
A: Yes, percentile compares to population distribution by age/sex, while percentage compares to a specific reference value.

Q4: Can I use this for children?
A: For children, BMI-for-age percentiles are more appropriate than this percentage calculation.

Q5: What are limitations of BMI percentage?
A: Like BMI itself, it doesn't account for body composition differences (muscle vs. fat distribution).